Across Georgia

CHICKAMAUGA -Four nonfiring Civil War-era rifle replicas on display as part of the city's streetscape project have been stolen.

The rifles, on display for less than a month, were discovered missing Thursday, said City Manager John Culpepper.

Mr. Culpepper said the guns were to be a memorial to those who fought and died in the Battle of Chickamauga during the Civil War. He said he wanted people to see something that wasn't on display in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park to serve as that memorial.

The rifles, replicas of the 1853 Enfield used by many Civil War soldiers, have no historic value, he said.

Man is charged with hiding his dead mom

SMYRNA -Cobb County police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a 54-year-old man accused of hiding his dead mother's body in the closet of their apartment.

Jeffrey Harris Kurtz was charged with concealing the death of his 79-year-old mother, Phyllis Ziello. Her body was found inside a bedroom closet May 7.

Mr. Kurtz wrapped the body in plastic and placed it in the bedroom closet, opened all the windows for ventilation and changed the locks so the apartment management could not get in, according to the warrant.

10-year-old charged with killing friend

KENNESAW -A 10-year-old boy has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of an 11-year-old friend.

Cobb County police spokesman Dana Pierce said the two got into a fight April 3 in the back yard of one of the boys after school. Mr. Pierce said one struck the other in the stomach.

Three days later, the 11-year-old was taken to WellStar Kennestone Hospital, complaining of stomach pain. The child was later taken to Scottish Rite, where he died of blunt force trauma to the abdomen, Mr. Pierce said.

Study says pupils at risk of being heavy

ATHENS -About 42 percent of Georgia fourth-graders are overweight or at risk of being overweight, according to a study from the University of Georgia.

Nearly 38 percent of eighth-graders and about 36 percent of 11th-graders were found to be too heavy. The study surveyed 3,473 pupils in the three grade levels in urban, suburban and rural parts of the state.